Whether your winter getaway is spurred by a desire to escape the snow- and ice-filled weather back home, a need to pare down your holiday shopping list or an urge to visit the Carolina coast sans the heavy summertime crowds (or, even better, by all of the above), the Grand Strand provides a wealth of ways to boost your holiday spirit. The holiday season brings a number of annual festivals to the Myrtle Beach area, and Compass Cove Resort provides a comfortable and convenient home base for catching all of them. During your next off-season retreat, try to attend one or more of these fun Grand Strand festivals and events – they’re sure to provide some extra holiday cheer:
Holiday Shows – A big draw at any time of year on the Grand Strand, the area’s theaters crank things up a notch in November and December with their Christmas-themed shows. Among the most popular are Alabama Theatre’s The South’s Grandest Christmas Show, The Carolina Opry’s Christmas Show of the South and the Pirates Voyage Christmas Show.
Lighting of the Landing – Barefoot Landing’s biggest holiday event is centered around a 22-foot-tall Christmas tree adorned from top to bottom with twinkling lights and decorative ornaments. To top off this holiday-season kickoff celebration, the North Myrtle Beach shopping/dining/entertainment complex throws in fireworks and a visit from Santa. The festivities are set for Saturday, November 18, starting at 6 p.m. Learn more at bflanding.com.
If you’re visiting the Grand Strand a bit later in the season, swing through the nearby town of Surfside Beach on Thursday, November 30, at 7 p.m. for its annual Christmas Tree Lighting. More info can be found at surfsidebeach.org.
Dickens Christmas Show and Festivals – Returning for its 36th year in 2017, this award-winning holiday tradition decks the Myrtle Beach Convention Center’s exhibit hall with unique gifts, arts and crafts. The event’s Victorian Era theme is inspired by Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” and it features more than 300 vendors sporting period-appropriate attire. Visitors can also enjoy Victorian Teas, a “Santa Through the Ages” exhibit and even a chance to visit with St. Nick himself. The event runs November 9-12 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Visit dickenschristmasshow.com for more info.
Nights of a Thousand Candles – Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet shines even brighter during the holidays thanks to the more than 5,500 hand-lit candles and 100,000-plus twinkling lights that illuminate the sculpture gardens’ beauty. To further set the mood, music from handbell choirs, carolers and other musicians fills the air, and you can sip on some hot cider to warm you up. The event runs on various nights November 30-December 17. Visit brookgreen.org for more info.
Intracoastal Christmas Regatta – The traditional Christmas parade gets a nautical twist at the 33rd Annual Intracoastal Christmas Regatta in North Myrtle Beach, which features a fleet of festive boats decked out in lights and brimming with holiday cheer. Crowds gather along the shoreline of the Intracoastal Waterway to soak in the spectacle as this boat parade rolls from Little River Inlet to Dock Holidays Marina. The floating fun starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 25. Learn more at christmasregatta.com.
More traditional Christmas parades can be found in Calabash on Friday, December 1; in North Myrtle Beach and at Broadway at the Beach on Saturday, December 2; in Murrells Inlet on Sunday, December 3; and in Conway and Surfside Beach on Saturday, December 9.
While the list above is impressive, these represent just a few of the many festive reasons to visit the Myrtle Beach area during the holiday season. Get in the holiday spirit at Compass Cove Resort on the Myrtle Beach oceanfront – we’re looking forward to being your home away from home for the holidays.
